Springfield boss Maha Sinnathamby denies any links to controversial wealth educator Dominique Grubisa

A controversial “wealth educator’’ claims to have the backing of a prominent Queensland developer but he says he’s never heard of her.

Dominique Grubisa.

Well this is a tad awkward.

A controversial Sydney-based lawyer claims to be a leading “wealth educator’’ with links to Maha Sinnathamby, the brains behind southeast Queensland satellite city Springfield.

Dominique Grubisa’s website features a pic of her with Sinnathamby, who she describes as someone who has shared the stage with her and is a “contributor’’ to her DG Institute, which encourages punters to buy distressed properties.

That association caught City Beat’s attention on Monday after the corporate cop took action against Grubisa and one of her companies, Master Wealth Control Pty Ltd, which charges $8500 to $10,200 for an asset protection service.

Dominique Grubisa

ASIC announced it had cancelled the firm’s longstanding credit licence because it “has not engaged in the credit activities authorised’’.

The regulator also said it had forced Grubisa to remove claims on her website that she was an “ASIC licensed debt specialist’’ and held an “ASIC Financial Services License’’.

“Neither Ms Grubisa nor her companies currently hold any authorisations or license to provide financial services,’’ said ASIC, which pointedly noted that its investigation into her group “remain ongoing’’.

Naturally, we rang Sinnathamby for comment and he was clearly taken aback, failing to even recognise her name.

“I don’t recall that I know her. I don’t remember her. I have not had any involvement at all with her,’’ Sinnathamby told us.

Grubisa didn’t return a call but her lawyer said MWC had done “nothing wrong” and was not engaged in credit activities.

She also maintained that at least one of Grubisa’s entities had a financial services license, contradicting ASIC’s assertion. As for Sinnathamby, she couldn’t comment.

UNTIMELY PASSING

Brisbane bean counters are mourning the untimely passing of one of their own.

Michael Cameron, who spent 20 years as a director at accounting mob Hall Chadwick, died suddenly last week from a heart-related ailment.

He was just 46 and leaves behind a wife and two daughters.

A UQ graduate in commerce and accounting, Cameron went on to practice in PNG in the mid-1990s before returning to Australia.

Michael Cameron

He was also active with the Queensland Japan Chamber of Commerce & Industry, where he had served as vice-president since 2018.

“Michael’s professional expertise and wise counsel was always valued together with his sense of humour, willing involvement and…his consistently positive outlook. We will miss him greatly,’’ QJCCI head Chris Whitecross said in a note to members.

FOCUSED OVERSEAS

Tony Bellas and the gang at Novonix are turning their attention overseas, where they have flagged a possible listing on the tech-focus NASDAQ exchange in the US.

The Brisbane-based battery materials outfit revealed Monday that it has lodged a draft registration statement with US regulators even as plenty of unknowns remain, including the pricing and timing of such a move.

Ironically, they noted in a statement to the ASX that all this has been done “on a confidential basis’’!

Novonix enjoyed a brief share spike earlier this year to $3.55 as it chalked up a few wins but the price has settled back since then, last closing at $2.36.

The company, which continues to pile up huge annual losses, announced plans in February to raise $146m.